Keep it working - Thunderbird: Difference between revisions

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This article suggests one way to to keep Thunderbird working and avoid serious problems. Its intended for new users, so it keeps things simple and presents few alternatives. The assumption is when you get more experience you may do things differently as you understand the tradeoffs.
This article suggests one way to to keep Thunderbird working and avoid serious problems. Its intended for new users, so it keeps things simple and presents few alternatives. The assumption is when you get more experience you may do things differently as you understand the tradeoffs.


* '''Keep the inbox empty'''. Store any new messages in another folder after you've read them, perhaps a child folder in local folders. This will help avoid corrupting your inbox folder.
* '''Keep the Inbox empty'''. Store any new messages in another folder after you've read them, perhaps a child folder in [[Local Folders]]. This will help avoid corrupting your Inbox folder.


* '''Regularly [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Compacting_folders compact] your inbox folder''' and any folders you delete messages in or move messages from. Once a week is a usefull rule of thumb though how often depends upon how many messages you get and how critical they are to you. Ideally you would configure Thunderbird to automaticly compact your folders for you by setting mail.purge_threshhold to 75 and installing the AutoMsgSelect extension (so that you don't get prompted for permission whenever it wants to compact a folder). Note that you install a extension by RIGHT clicking on the download link with Firefox, choosing "save link as", going to tools -> extension, and then press the install button and select the downloaded .xpi file. Otherwise Firefox will think it should install that extension and complain it could not be installed because it was not compatible with Firefox.
* '''Regularly [[Compacting folders | compact]] your Inbox folder''' and any folders you delete messages in or move messages from. Once a week is a useful rule of thumb though how often depends upon how many messages you get and how critical they are to you. Ideally you would configure Thunderbird to automatically compact your folders for you by setting mail.purge_threshhold to 75 and installing the AutoMsgSelect extension (so that you don't get prompted for permission whenever it wants to compact a folder). For further information on these settings, see the [[Compacting folders]] article.


* '''Regularly [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Backing_up_your_mail%2C_address_books%2C_and_settings backup your profile''']. As a minimum backup your profile once you get Thunderbird working, and every time you upgrade. If you're using a version of Thunderbird that automaticly upgrades (v1.5 or later), backup your profile after it upgrades. Use [http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/ Mozbackup] to do this if you're using Windows.
* '''Regularly [[Profile backup |  back up your profile]]'''. As a minimum back up your profile once you get Thunderbird working, and every time you upgrade. If you're using a version of Thunderbird that automatically upgrades (v1.5 or later), back up your profile after it upgrades. Use [http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/ Mozbackup] to do this if you're using Windows.


* '''Don't use the "default" profile name'''. Thunderbird has a nasty habit of once in a great while forgetting about the existence of a profile if it uses the default name. When this occurs you suddenly startup in the new account manager. You can avoid this by creating your profile with the [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_Manager profile manager] and choosing a unique name. You can also specify where you want the profile to be stored. For example, I have a c:\profile directory and store my Firefox profile in one subdirectory and my Thunderbird profile in another subdirectory in it. This makes it much easier to find your profile if you need to edit one of its files. Just do not store it within your Thunderbird program directory or it may be deleted when you upgrade.  
* '''Don't use the "default" profile name'''. Thunderbird has a nasty habit of once in a great while forgetting about the existence of a profile if it uses the default name. When this occurs you suddenly startup in the new account manager. You can avoid this by creating your profile with the [[Profile Manager]] and choosing a unique name. You can also specify where you want the profile to be stored. For example, on Windows I have a <tt>c:\profile</tt> directory and within it store my Thunderbird profile in one subdirectory and my Firefox profile in another subdirectory. This makes it much easier to find your profile if you need to edit one of its files. Just do not store your profile within your Thunderbird [[installation directory | program installation directory]] or it may be deleted when you upgrade.  


* '''Check that your [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Antivirus_software anti-virus software] isn't configured to delete your inbox''' if you get a virus. If it doesn't support quarantining the infected message v1.5 has a workaround in Tools -> Options -> Privacy -> Anti-Virus
* '''Check that your [[antivirus software]] isn't configured to delete your Inbox''' if you get a virus. If it doesn't support quarantining the infected message, v1.5 has a [[Download each e-mail to a separate file before adding to Inbox |workaround]] that may help.


* '''Don't check for viruses in messages you send.''' This avoids some interoperability problems, and if the recipient isn't already using a anti-virus program they have bigger problems to worry about than your message.
* '''Don't check for viruses in messages you send.''' This avoids some interoperability problems, and if the recipient isn't already using a anti-virus program they have bigger problems to worry about than your message.


* '''Don't keep a copy of your messages on the POP server without providing some way to automaticly get rid of them later on.''' If you use tools -> account settings -> server settings -> leave message on server to keep a copy of the original message on the POP server after Thunderbird checks for new mail (so that you can still access it via webmail) set the number of days it should keep the copy.
* '''Don't keep a copy of your messages on the POP server without providing some way to automatically get rid of them later on.''' If you use "[[Menu differences in Windows, Linux, and Mac|Tools -> Account Settings]] -> Server Settings -> Leave message on server" to keep a copy of the original message on the POP server after Thunderbird checks for new mail (so that you can still access it via webmail) set the number of days it should keep the copy.


* '''Only install extensions from [https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/?application=thunderbird Mozilla add-ons] or [http://www.extensionsmirror.nl/index.php?showforum=20 the Extensions Mirror]'''. Not every extension is well behaved. These are the two most popular web sites for Thunderbird extensions so there is a better chance the extension has been tested and/or used by alot of other users.
* '''Only install extensions from [https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/?application=thunderbird Mozilla add-ons] or [http://www.extensionsmirror.nl/index.php?showforum=20 the Extensions Mirror]'''. Not every extension is well behaved. These are the two most popular web sites for Thunderbird extensions so there is a better chance the extension has been tested and/or used by a lot of other users.


* '''Follow the [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Upgrading_%28Thunderbird%29 upgrade instructions'''] if you manually upgrade.
* '''Follow the [[Upgrading (Thunderbird) | upgrade instructions]]''' if you manually upgrade.
   
   
[[Category:Thunderbird]]
[[Category:Thunderbird]]

Revision as of 06:27, 26 December 2005

This article suggests one way to to keep Thunderbird working and avoid serious problems. Its intended for new users, so it keeps things simple and presents few alternatives. The assumption is when you get more experience you may do things differently as you understand the tradeoffs.

  • Keep the Inbox empty. Store any new messages in another folder after you've read them, perhaps a child folder in Local Folders. This will help avoid corrupting your Inbox folder.
  • Regularly compact your Inbox folder and any folders you delete messages in or move messages from. Once a week is a useful rule of thumb though how often depends upon how many messages you get and how critical they are to you. Ideally you would configure Thunderbird to automatically compact your folders for you by setting mail.purge_threshhold to 75 and installing the AutoMsgSelect extension (so that you don't get prompted for permission whenever it wants to compact a folder). For further information on these settings, see the Compacting folders article.
  • Regularly back up your profile. As a minimum back up your profile once you get Thunderbird working, and every time you upgrade. If you're using a version of Thunderbird that automatically upgrades (v1.5 or later), back up your profile after it upgrades. Use Mozbackup to do this if you're using Windows.
  • Don't use the "default" profile name. Thunderbird has a nasty habit of once in a great while forgetting about the existence of a profile if it uses the default name. When this occurs you suddenly startup in the new account manager. You can avoid this by creating your profile with the Profile Manager and choosing a unique name. You can also specify where you want the profile to be stored. For example, on Windows I have a c:\profile directory and within it store my Thunderbird profile in one subdirectory and my Firefox profile in another subdirectory. This makes it much easier to find your profile if you need to edit one of its files. Just do not store your profile within your Thunderbird program installation directory or it may be deleted when you upgrade.
  • Check that your antivirus software isn't configured to delete your Inbox if you get a virus. If it doesn't support quarantining the infected message, v1.5 has a workaround that may help.
  • Don't check for viruses in messages you send. This avoids some interoperability problems, and if the recipient isn't already using a anti-virus program they have bigger problems to worry about than your message.
  • Don't keep a copy of your messages on the POP server without providing some way to automatically get rid of them later on. If you use "Tools -> Account Settings -> Server Settings -> Leave message on server" to keep a copy of the original message on the POP server after Thunderbird checks for new mail (so that you can still access it via webmail) set the number of days it should keep the copy.
  • Only install extensions from Mozilla add-ons or the Extensions Mirror. Not every extension is well behaved. These are the two most popular web sites for Thunderbird extensions so there is a better chance the extension has been tested and/or used by a lot of other users.